My top 10 picks for Downtown San Jose, all kid-friendly:
- ChepeCletas: a bike tour company offering city tours in the heart of Downtown San Jose, visiting notable sites while explaining local history and culture
- National Museum: one of many museums in Downtown San Jose, this one covers a variety of important topics including history, military, pre-columbian history, and jade and gold artifacts, and houses a butterfly garden
- Hacienda La Chimba: a coffee plantation offering coffee tours and self-guided tours through their trails that have a wide array of viewpoints and photo opportunities
- Montañas de Cariblanco: a private reserve with a trail that visits coffee plantations, forests, a river, and a waterfall
- Senderos Colon: a park with extensive trails for hiking, trail running, or mountain biking
- Refugio Animal de Costa Rica: a wildlife rehabilitation center offering educational tours to see and learn about the local wildlife, as well as important issues like conservation and rehabilitation
- Pico Blanco: a famous peak in the metropolitan area, this hike is moderate to advanced, not always well-marked, susceptible to rain, but well-worth it
- Cruz de Alajuelita: another hike near Pico Blanco and connected to it via trails, but can be accessed from a different starting point as well
- Amphitheatre Villa: a series of caves dug into a quarry and turned into a European-inspired themed tourist attraction with restaurants and tours of the caves
- Viña El Espavey: a winery offering tours, tastings, and lunch
Honorable mentions:
- Piedra de Aserri: a natural rock formation reached by a relatively short but steep hike offering panoramic views at the top
- El Arbol Hueco: a hollow ficus tree that you can climb up, reached by a moderate but lengthy hike, it is somewhat near the Piedra de Aserri and the two activities are great to combine together in one day
- Spirogyra Butterfly Garden: a butterfly garden located in the heart of the city offering self-guided tours
Restaurant picks:
- Costa Rica Beer Factory: this bar, restaurant, and brewery offers tours upon request and an extensive menu, and is located in a trendy neighborhood filled with restaurants and bars